Minor Counties Championship 1914

It was decided that there should still be a Committee that would be able to ‘receive instructions’ and deal with important matters arising during the season. Dr Norman proposed, and Sir C E M Y Nepean (Berkshire), seconded a minor amendment to the constitution that dealt with the functioning of the Committee. Norfolk were given a place on the Committee in place of Wiltshire whilst the other five counties remaining unchanged, being Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Glamorgan, Staffordshire, and Surrey (2 nd XI). It should be noted that it was the counties as a whole that had places on the Committee, rather than named individuals from those counties. The recommendation of the Committee was that the Minor Counties Championship of 1914 should continue on the non-grouping system, consisting of a single table with the possibility of a Challenge Match if the team finishing second should not have played the team heading the table during the season. However there was a ‘considerable argument’ regarding the Challenge Match itself. In the previous season Norfolk had been awarded the title at the expense of Glamorgan because they had secured a lead on the first-innings in the Challenge Match, which was left unfinished owing to bad weather. It was eventually decided nem. con., to accept the Committee’s proposal to add to Rule 13 the sentence “A lead on the first innings should not be a result within the meaning of this rule.” It was reported that the Committee had interpreted the unmodified Rule 13 to decide an appeal in favour of Norfolk, who therefore remained as the Champion County for 1913, but felt that the rule ought to be altered for the 1914 season. A letter was received from Mr F R Lacey, the secretary of the MCC, offering dates for a match between the Marylebone Club and a combined team of the Minor Counties. Originally 21 and 22 May were suggested but subsequently the dates were amended to 25 and 26 May. It was agreed nem. con. to accept the challenge; on the proposal of Mr W W Marks (Bedfordshire), which was seconded by Mr H A Green (Essex 2 nd XI), the following were appointed to act as a special Selection Committee: Sir C E M Y Nepean (Berkshire), Mr E H D Sewell (Buckinghamshire), Mr A Beresford Hawley (Durham), Mr T A L Whittington (Glamorgan), Mr C B Leathes Prior (Norfolk), Mr P Briggs (Staffordshire), Mr A W F Rutty (Surrey 2 nd XI), and hon sec Dr J Earl Norman ex-officio. After Mr T A Bulmer had contributed some remarks on the Daylight Saving Bill and Major Papworth (Cambridgeshire) inquired as to what punishment could be imposed on a county for fielding an ineligible player, the proceedings closed with the usual hearty votes of thanks to Mr F E Lacey for the use of the room, and the chairman for presiding. Umpires The following captains and representatives of clubs of the Minor Counties Cricket Association met in the pavilion at Lord’s on the morning of Thursday 7 December with the purpose of determining which umpires were to stand in Championship matches for the 1914 season. The secretary of the MCC, Mr F E Lacey presided, whilst the following were present:- Bedfordshire – Mr E E Apthorp Berkshire – Sir C E M Y Nepean Buckinghamshire – Mr E H D Sewell Dorset – Mr C P Goodden Durham – Mr T A Bulmer Essex (2 nd XI) – Mr O R Borradaile Glamorgan – Mr T A L Whittington Hertfordshire – Dr J Earl Norman (hon sec) and Rev G C Ward Kent (2 nd XI) – Mr G J V Weigall Lincolnshire – Mr W E Thompson 5